Bill 1010

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       1010
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19960110
Primary Sponsor:                   McConnell 
All Sponsors:                      McConnell 
Drafted Document Number:           pt\2101dw.96
Residing Body:                     Senate
Current Committee:                 Judiciary Committee 11 SJ
Subject:                           Initiative petition

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19960110  Introduced, referred to Committee        11 SJ

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

PETITIONING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROPOSE AN INITIATIVE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SUBMISSION TO THE STATES TO PROVIDE THE STATES A METHOD OF OFFERING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Whereas, the ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the states created a balance of power between the federal government and the states; and

Whereas, the federal government was granted certain limited powers under the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States requires, under the Tenth Amendment that: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people"; and

Whereas, by the combined actions of the Congress, the Executive and the Judiciary, today, power is concentrated in the federal government; and

Whereas, the original checks and balances created by the founders have been eroded and the national government has consolidated power and authority; and

Whereas, the federal government is more distant from the people than state governments; and

Whereas, to achieve government of the people, by the people, and for the people, government must become closer to the people; and

Whereas, there is a need for an effective mechanism by which the states can offer amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Congress of the United States, by this resolution, is petitioned to propose the States' Initiative Resolution as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for ratification by state legislatures. This resolution must be submitted to the states for ratification, providing for the states a method through which they may amend the Constitution of the United States.

Be it further resolved that to achieve the purpose expressed above, the States' Initiative Amendment shall provide that: Whenever three-fourths of the legislatures of the states deem it necessary, they shall propose amendments to this Constitution. These proposed amendments are valid for all intents and purposes two years after they are submitted to Congress. These amendments will be invalid if both houses of Congress, by two-thirds vote, disapprove them within two years after their submission.

Be it further resolved that the Clerks of the South Carolina Senate and the South Carolina House of Representatives transmit copies of this concurrent resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of each state's legislature of the United States of America, and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.